APNZ

Prime Minister John Key says he is "deeply concerned" by the lack of access to the MH17 crash site and has called on Vladimir Putin to ''stand up'' on the issue.

New Zealand Cricket looks set to extend Mike Hesson's national coaching contract for at least two years beyond the World Cup.

The employer and staff member who were violently killed in a South Auckland pawn store yesterday have been named by police.

The Tall Blacks will leave New Zealand to continue their preparation for next month's World Cup with a winning feeling.

Two people have been killed after activating a panic alarm in South Auckland this afternoon.

Having fired a warning shot across the bows of Conservative Leader Colin Craig this morning, NZ First Leader Winston Peters is promising to announce "game changing" policies to tackle social inequality and harmful foreign investment in his speech to party faithful tomorrow.

The body of a driver whose truck plunged off the road near Kaikoura has been recovered.

A person has died in a motorbike crash north of Auckland.

The Civil Defence has warned Northland to prepare for further flooding as heavy rain and gale force winds lash the region again this weekend.

Black ice has caused several crashed on State Highway 5 this morning, with parts of central North Island experiencing temperatures well below zero.